Missouri registration and tax info

Gusto partners with CorpNet to help you register your business in new states. 

How it works

Once a work address has been added in a new state and a new employee has been hired and assigned a work address in that state, you can get registration assistance in Gusto.

Pricing varies by state—get started below and during step 4, you'll review the price, process, and estimated timeline to completion.

Here’s a snapshot of the process:

1. We’ll collect some basic business information from you.
2. Gusto and CorpNet will check the information for accuracy.
3. Your registration application(s) are usually submitted within 3-5 business days.
4. Check the mail for registration info—the state will typically send your tax account numbers and rates to you directly.

CorpNet can walk you through entering any info that they themselves do not enter in Gusto on your behalf.

Get started with state tax registration

1. Sign in to Gusto as an admin.
2. Click the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
3. Under “[State name] Tax Setup”, click Have us register for you.
   • The state you want to register in will only appear in this location once a work address has been added in a new state and an employee has been assigned a work address in that state.
4. Review the price, process, and estimated timeline to completion.
   • We will not charge you the registration service fee until you send us your order.
5. Click Continue.
6. Answer a couple eligibility questions.
   • Note: Gusto can only register for you if you don't yet have a state account already.
7. Click Save & continue.
8. Enter some company information.
   • We’ll pre-populate the information we already have.
9. Click Save & continue.
10. Tell us about your responsible party–this is the person who is to be held accountable for the company’s good standing and a point of contact within the organization for tax purposes.
    • If you're a nonprofit and run into any issues, check out our FAQ section below for more information.
11. Click Save & continue.
12. Enter some state-specific operational information.
13. Click Save and continue.
14. Review all information thoroughly–if any information is incorrect it may delay the process.
    • Heads up: state and local agencies may charge additional fees and increase the estimated turnaround time shown. CorpNet will let you know if that happens.
15. Check the box to acknowledge all info is accurate and you agree to the Terms of Service.
16. Click Send registration order.

After you send your order, we’ll email you with status updates and add your order total to your next monthly invoice.

Check the status of your order

When your order is complete you’ll receive emails from both Gusto and CorpNet. They’ll detail the next steps which include:

• Reviewing registration details
• Any other state-specific instructions

Before your order is completed, you can use the link in the state registration confirmation email from Gusto to check the status of your order. 

You can also check the status in your Gusto account:

1. Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
2. Scroll to the state's headline.
3. Click Check the status of your registration.

Cancel your order

If an order is already completed, you'll need to contact CorpNet at [email protected] or 1(888) 449-2638 to cancel. They’re open Monday-Friday from 7am-5pm PT.

If your order is still in progress, you can cancel from your Gusto account:

1. Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
2. Scroll to the state's headline.
3. Click Check the status of your registration.
4. On the right-side of the page, under "Changed your mind?", click Cancel your order.
5. Let us know why you're canceling.
6. Click Cancel your order.

FAQs

Q: Can I run payroll for my employees before my registration is complete?

A: Not in most cases—you typically need to have a withholding account number and required tax rate(s) in Gusto before you can run payroll. 

If you’re registering in a state where there is no income tax withheld, you can use the state-specific “new employer rate” in this article until you receive your company-assigned rate from the agency.

Q: Can I use Gusto to register in a new state if I don't have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) yet?

A: No–you must have a FEIN entered in Gusto to order a state tax registration.

Q: Where can I see all my tax information?

A: You can see all tax details in the following locations: 

• Gusto–head to the Taxes & compliance and select Tax setup, and scroll to the applicable state tax setup.
• CorpNet–create a CorpNet account and login at any time to review information.
• State online account–once you’ve gained access to your agency accounts, your tax details will also be available there.

Gusto’s state tax registration service does not contain tax, legal, financial, or HR advice. Since rules and regulations change over time and can vary by location, consult a lawyer, HR expert, or accountant for specific guidance.

Q: My company is a nonprofit and I'm unable to enter 0% in the responsible party section, what do I do?

A: Some states have a 1% minimum for the responsible party ownership percentage. Those states are: ID, KS, MN, OH, SC, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, and RI.

Registration orders will need to be placed directly through CorpNet, outside of Gusto, or you'll need to register directly with the agency yourself.

Income tax withholding and unemployment tax 

New employers in Missouri can register for both of income and unemployment tax together. Here's what to expect:

• You should receive your account numbers in 1-2 weeks.
  • Keep this time frame in mind when planning your first Missouri payroll—you'll need the tax account numbers entered in Gusto in order to process payroll for Missouri employees.
• Your Department of Revenue withholding tax identification number will be 8 digits.
• You will also receive your assigned withholding tax deposit schedule.
• Your Department of Labor and Industrial Relations employer account number will be 10 digits.

Both account numbers and your withholding tax deposit schedule need to be entered in Gusto by clicking the Taxes & compliance section and selecting Tax setup.

Register your company

1. Some companies are required to obtain a charter number or certificate of authority number to operate in Missouri. These numbers are obtained after registering with the Missouri Secretary of State.
   • If you're unsure if your company needs to register with the Secretary of State, please contact the agency at 866-223-6535.
   • For most companies, the charter number or certificate of authority number from the Secretary of State will need to be included when registering for both income and unemployment taxes in Missouri.
2. Visit the Missouri Online Business Registration website. 
3. Click Start registration here at the bottom of the page to begin the process, and make sure to register for withholding tax and unemployment tax.
   • Most companies are liable for state unemployment if they pay more than $1,500 of wages in a calendar quarter or have an employee for some part of a day in each of 20 different weeks. 

Unemployment insurance rate

The Unemployment insurance tax rate can be found on the most recent Notice of Liability you received from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, or by calling the agency at (573) 751-3215. 

Click here to view state-by-state new employer rate ranges and wage bases (not company-specific).

• Keep in mind: there are special cases for those in the mining, construction, and non-profit industries.

Enter the tax account information in Gusto

Once a valid Missouri work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:

1. Click the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
2. Scroll to the “Missouri Tax Setup” headline and select Manage taxes.
3. Enter your withholding account number, tax deposit schedule, unemployment account number and agency-assigned unemployment rate.

• If you need to update a rate already entered, follow the steps in this article. 
• If you need to update your account number: contact us from the Help section of your account—there may be tax implications if taxes have already been paid or filed to an incorrect account number.

Local taxes

Kansas City

Employees who live or work in Kansas City are subject to a City and Earnings tax from the City of Kansas City, Finance Department. For Gusto to file and pay your taxes to the city of Kansas City, we need special authorization. 

Verify that the following information you've entered into Gusto matches what's on file with your Kansas City Quick Tax Portal account—if you need to find or update information with the city, you can call City Hall at (816) 513-3600:

• Account Number (Account ID)
  • If you don't have a number yet or haven't registered for a Quick Tax account, do so with the City of Kansas City, Missouri - Revenue Division online, or call (816) 513-1135 to get an Account ID.
• Letter ID
  • We'll need the Letter ID from a letter correspondence sent within the past year from the City of Kansas City. To view letters received from the agency electronically:
    • Check your Kansas City Quick Tax Portal.
    • Click your company name.
    • Select More…
    • Under "Letters", select View Letters.

For businesses without activity in Kansas City but who employ city residents: There is no legal requirement to withhold on Kansas City residents if there is no business activity taking place in Kansas City.

• The business may set up a withholding account as a courtesy—if you do, you'll need to contact our team from the Help section of your Gusto account to set up courtesy withholding in Gusto.

St. Louis City Tax 

For businesses with activity in St. Louis, you'll need to register with the St. Louis Collector of Revenue—Gusto needs this to pay your St. Louis City Tax and Payroll Expense Tax.

To register:

1. Completing Form E-9.
2. Faxing it to the St. Louis Collector of Revenue at (314) 622-4847—Attention "Registration".
   • If you have any questions, call the agency at (314) 622-4111.  

For businesses without activity in St. Louis, but who employ city residents: There is no legal requirement to withhold on St. Louis residents if there is no business activity taking place in St. Louis. The business may set up a withholding account as a courtesy by filing form E-9 and checking the "Withholding for City Resident Only" box—if you do, you'll need to contact our team from the Help section of your Gusto account to set up courtesy withholding in Gusto.

• Heads up: If the business chooses not to offer courtesy withholding to their resident employees, there is a legal requirement to report to the city all city residents. The business will need to be set up as an agency for reporting purposes only—contact the St. Louis office at (314) 622-4805 to do so.

Third party authorization (TPA) is required

For Gusto to file and pay your City Earnings and Payroll tax to the city of Kansas City, we need special authorization.

Verify that the following information you've entered into Gusto matches what's on file with your Kansas City Quick Tax Portal account—if you need to update information with the city, you can call City Hall at (816) 513-3600:

• Account Number
• Letter ID
  • We'll need the Letter ID from a letter correspondence sent within the past year from the City of Kansas City. To view letters received from the agency electronically:
    • Check your Kansas City Quick Tax Portal.
    • Click your company name.
    • Select More…
    • Under "Letters", select View Letters.

Income tax withholding account number and tax deposit schedule

Withholding account number (Tax Identification Number)

If you've run payroll in the past in MO, you can find your 8-digit Missouri Tax ID Number by:

• Reviewing the Employer's Return of Income Taxes Withheld (Form MO-941) received from the MO Department of Revenue or;
• Calling the agency at (573) 751-3505.

Tax deposit schedule

Missouri employers receive their tax deposit schedule after they register with the MO Department of Revenue—if you registered over a year ago, or are uncertain what your tax deposit schedule is, call the Missouri Department of Revenue at (573) 751-3505.

State unemployment tax

If you've run payroll in the past in MO, you can find your Unemployment Account Number by reviewing:

• The Notice of Liability sent to you by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, or;
• Your Quarterly Contribution and Wage Report (Form MODES-4).

The account number contains 10 digits and is formatted as follows: 00-00000-0-00. 

Unemployment insurance tax rate

Your Unemployment Insurance tax rate can be found by:

• Reviewing the most recent Notice of Liability you received from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relation or;
• By calling the agency at (573) 751-3215.

Click here to view state-by-state UI rate ranges and wage bases (not company-specific).

Enter the tax account information in Gusto

Once a valid Missouri work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:

1. Click the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
2. Scroll to the “Missouri Tax Setup” headline and select Manage taxes.
3. Enter your tax identification number, tax deposit schedule, unemployment account number and agency-assigned unemployment rate.
   • If you need to update a rate already entered, follow the steps in this article.
   • If you need to update your account number: contact us from the Help section of your account—there may be tax implications if taxes have already been paid or filed to an incorrect account number.

Local taxes

Kansas City

Employees who live or work in Kansas City are subject to a City and Earnings tax from the City of Kansas City, Finance Department. For Gusto to file and pay your taxes to the city of Kansas City, we need special authorization. 

Verify that the following information you've entered into Gusto matches what's on file with your Kansas City Quick Tax Portal account—if you need to find or update information with the city, you can call City Hall at (816) 513-3600:

• Account Number (Account ID)
  • If you don't have a number yet or haven't registered for a Quick Tax account, do so with the City of Kansas City, Missouri - Revenue Division online, or call (816) 513-1135 to get an Account ID.
• Letter ID
  • We'll need the Letter ID from a letter correspondence sent within the past year from the City of Kansas City. To view letters received from the agency electronically:
    • Check your Kansas City Quick Tax Portal.
    • Click your company name.
    • Select More…
    • Under "Letters", select View Letters.

For businesses without activity in Kansas City but who employ city residents: There is no legal requirement to withhold on Kansas City residents if there is no business activity taking place in Kansas City.

• The business may set up a withholding account as a courtesy—if you do, you'll need to contact our team from the Help section of your Gusto account to set up courtesy withholding in Gusto.

St. Louis City Tax 

For businesses with activity in St. Louis, you'll need to register with the St. Louis Collector of Revenue—Gusto needs this to pay your St. Louis City Tax and Payroll Expense Tax.

To register:

1. Completing Form E-9.
2. Faxing it to the St. Louis Collector of Revenue at (314) 622-4847—Attention "Registration".
   • If you have any questions, call the agency at (314) 622-4111.  

For businesses without activity in St. Louis, but who employ city residents: There is no legal requirement to withhold on St. Louis residents if there is no business activity taking place in St. Louis. The business may set up a withholding account as a courtesy by filing form E-9 and checking the "Withholding for City Resident Only" box—if you do, you'll need to contact our team from the Help section of your Gusto account to set up courtesy withholding in Gusto.

• Heads up: If the business chooses not to offer courtesy withholding to their resident employees, there is a legal requirement to report to the city all city residents. The business will need to be set up as an agency for reporting purposes only—contact the St. Louis office at (314) 622-4805 to do so.

Third party authorization (TPA) is required

For Gusto to file and pay your City Earnings and Payroll tax to the city of Kansas City, we need special authorization.

Verify that the following information you've entered into Gusto matches what's on file with your Kansas City Quick Tax Portal account—if you need to update information with the city, you can call City Hall at (816) 513-3600:

• Account Number
• Letter ID
  • We'll need the Letter ID from a letter correspondence sent within the past year from the City of Kansas City. To view letters received from the agency electronically:
    • Check your Kansas City Quick Tax Portal.
    • Click your company name.
    • Select More…
    • Under "Letters", select View Letters.

• Employer's Return of Income Taxes Withheld (MO-941)*
• Quarter-Monthly Withholding Tax Payments (MO-941P) electronic filing only*
• Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements (MO-W3)
• Wage and Tax Statements (State W2)
• Quarterly Contribution and Wage Report (MODES-4-7)
• Quarterly Wage Report Continuation Sheet (MODES-10B)
• MO New Hire Report
• Various local returns

Asterisks info—only if applicable

• Filings marked with an asterisk (*) are coupons or payment vouchers or other forms that are filed electronically and will not appear in your Tax documents tab.
  • Find these in the Agency Payments report.
• Filings marked with a double-asterisk (**) are forms that will only be available for January 1st, 2020 and beyond.